for the healing of autistic children and adults and for help for their families, carers and the professionals who work with them. The novena details are below the long list of names.

The Ninth (annual) International 54 Day Rosary Novena, for the healing of autism, will commence on October 1 and will conclude on November 23, 2018. Please let people know about this. Full details here

(This is in addition to our two novenas each month in honour of St. Philomena)

Due to the large number of people who are enrolled in this novena, I have started a new webpage, for the continuation of the names list. You can find it at this location. After checking it out, please return to this web page. You will find a link back to it, at the bottom of the continuation of names list webpage.

(This list was last updated October 29, 2018, at 2.04 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard time)

Novena to St. Philomena the Wonder Worker

O FAITHFUL VIRGIN and glorious martyr, St. Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity, O great saint. Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I now humbly lay before thee, (healing for all people who have autism, and in particular the autistic children and adults that we are making this novena for, and help for their families, carers and the professionals who work with them). I am firmly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the Passion and Death of Jesus, thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of Thee, and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in His saints. Amen.

The novena is held twice every month from: the 1st to the 9th of the Monthand from the 10th to the 18th of the month.

Please e-mail me the first name of any autistic children and adults, that you wish to be prayed for in the novenas. I will add their names to the list on this page. Their names will remain on the list during the subsequent novenas. (My name is Mary Ann).

Please put the words: Autism novena in the subject line of the email. It would be appreciated if you could indicate which country you are in.

It is important to put the words: Autism novena in the subject line of the email because I am also running a prayer campaign for people with cancer and when there is no specification I do not know which prayer campaign to enrol the person in. We would also appreciate it if, you could let us know how you found us: for example through a particular website, blog, forum, internet discussion group, email list, through an email from a friend etc.This would help us with our assessment of the promotion of the novena. Please join me in making a novena, for the healing of all children and adults who have autism and for help for their families and for those who work with them. The combined prayers of many people are much more powerful than the prayers of individual people. Please mark the dates for the novenas in your diary. If you find this web page after the novena has already started, just begin on the day that you found us and continue the novena with us.

Lourdes, France.

All the people who are enrolled in this novena, are prayed for, by a priest chaplain of Lourdes, France at the grotto. He will bring all the names on the novena list and place them in the petition box at the grotto. In addition the people enrolled in this novena, will be prayed for at an Australian Lourdes shrine as well. Our thanks to Fr. Brian for his assistance with this apostolate. Father Brian has left Lourdes to return to his own country, but happily we have been given a new priest at Lourdes: Fr. Xavier.

Father George Byers of Holy Souls Hermitage offered Holy Mass for all people who have autism and their carers on Saturday the 22nd of September, 2012.

Dear Mary Ann, A quick note to say you (and the people on the autism list) are not forgotten here in Lourdes, and will be remembered in Christmas Masses. (Fr. Brian) 25th December, 2010.

This weekend, I will mention the petition for people who have autism, at the Mass (at Lourdes, France) ..(Fr. Brian) April 28, 2012.

Dear Mary Ann, Many thanks for your email, just to let you know that the list of people has been placed at the Grotto and Mass has been celebrated for them. With every best wish. (Fr. Martin,) September 18, 2009. (Lourdes, France)

(Please remember Fr. Brian, Fr. Martin and Fr. George, who were previously at Lourdes, assisting us with the autism novena, and also Father Xavier who is currently praying at Lourdes, for those enrolled in the autism novena. This is one of the ways that we can thank these four priests for their interest in this apostolate for people who have autism).

A healing at Lourdes, France

An autistic boy from London was prepared by a priest to make his First Holy Communion. A year later he was taken to Lourdes, France and received the sacrament for the first time while there, after that he started making eye contact with people and also started speaking. Since then his speech has improved a lot.

Special notes

Please let your friends who have autistic children know about this web page and about the novena. I urge all the parents of autistic children to invoke their child's guardian angel for protection from dangers. Often here in Australia and elsewhere there are very sad stories about autistic children who have died as a result of tragic events. Even though we have had a lot of children in our family on the autism spectrum, there seems to have been a special protection from danger. I also recommend that everyone here pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and seek their powerful intercession for their benefactors. Lots of information on that subject here.

Due to the many emails that I receive and the other demands on my time, I regret that I cannot personally answer all the prayer requests that I receive, but be assured that I read all the prayer requests and pray for all of them. (Mary Ann)

Thanksgiving for prayers answered

Mary Ann, I don't know how to thank you for all the help and hope this prayer crusade has brought into our family's life...I have enrolled the names of my two children in the autism novena to St. Philomena a year ago and since then they have made so much progress especially in their studies and social skills...despite their condition, they have received academic achievement awards in the 1st quarter competing w/ regular kids in a class of 30 students..enjoyed participating in school programs and even joining and winning in a drawing competition...seems like too good to be true but was made possible because of the power of prayer of all kindhearted people joining this novena crusade...so thank you and thank God for all of you who prayed for my children and all the other children and adults suffering from autism. Maricon, (Philippines)

I have seen great improvement in my son after sending you his name last year to include on the novena list. (Alissa)

I found your novena last April, after our granddaughter’s paediatrician gave a diagnosis of autism, following testing. If she did, it was mild and she was high functioning. I prayed the novena and in August, eight months after the first diagnosis, she was tested again and the results were that she is not autistic. There were several traits in her personality and actions that seemed to indicate that something was wrong, but in a matter of a few months she has changed drastically.

Just recently she went to a speech therapist and we were told that she was a little behind in maturity but in some ways she is very bright with a great sense of humor. I won't go into all the things that indicated to me something was terribly wrong, but believe me she is not the same child. I am so grateful to St Philomena and to you and to all the people who pray the novena. I will always say the prayers for all of the intentions of the novena. Praise God! Thank you, sincerely. T.N., AZ (USA)

My daughter-in-law called me in tears of joy, to tell me that her son followed a direction for the first time last week. He had emptied the pantry out, and she told him "you need to put everything back" and to her surprise he did. The prayers are working! Here is an update: he said Mommy on Mothers Day. V.I., California, (USA)

Hi Mary Ann, God Bless you greatly for your love and sacrifice and prayers on behalf of all these dear souls and their families. Our son has been on your novena list for a few years and he is doing very well. We have come so far but have a way to go. He now has only anxiety and sensory issues, and is not appearing as though he has autism symptoms. Thank you for praying!!! (Alissa)

Regarding the previous testimony; for those of us who live with autism, we understand why this development is so wonderful. For those who have never lived with autism, and whose children go from one achievement to another, it might not be so obvious. It reminds me of a testimony, that I read once about a Down's Syndrome girl, who was not potty trained at the age of 4.The mother made a novena to St. Philomena, and soon after the novena, the little girl was potty trained. Although I have not lived with a child with Down's Syndrome, my experience with autism helped me to understand, and to rejoice with the mother. What a wonderful mother's day present to hear your autistic child say mommy. Seeing your autistic child progress in learning and speech beats flowers and chocolate. (Mary Ann)

Thank you! This is my second year saying the novena, and there is such a change in my son and in my family. Atticus George is my four year son. He was diagnosed with autism at two and half. He barely spoke more than twenty words and was violent.

I believe that God blessed him and healed him. He talks and plays with friends and uses the bathroom by himself. Thank you God. Thank you. (M.B.)

Nicholas is a bright college junior with Asperger's syndrome. Our families became friends in the waiting room of one of the group therapies attended by Nicholas and my son. Nicholas had been looking for internships without success for over a year when I enrolled him in the novena in April 2010. A couple of months later, he was accepted into one of the most prestigious summer internships available in his profession! And he is loving it! Thank you so very much for organizing this powerful prayer chain! God bless you and yours. Angela (USA)

I enrolled my son in the novena four months ago. My son is being home schooled now, and there has been a remarkable difference in him, since I added his name to your prayer list. His speech is also improving everyday. I know it’s because of the prayers. Desrae Goldstone, (South Africa)

Thank you St. Philomena and Our Lady of Lourdes for a very noticeable improvement in my daughter Anne Maree's behaviour. I also give thanks for the following favour: Anne Maree was recently protected from injury in a very serious accident that took place in our house. Her brother John (who is also autistic) and who had lost a lot of weight due to a behaviour problem has now improved in this area and has put on the weight that he needs to have for good health. Mary Ann (Australia)

I first saw your website and prayed about a year ago. My grandson is doing much, much better. Thank you for this website. N.R. (USA)

I participated in the novena to St. Philomena the Wonder Worker these first days of November, praying for all with autism and their helpers and there has been significant progress in the health of my grandson (who has severe autism) and also in the health of his mom (my daughter). Their doctor noticed progress! I will continue to pray. God bless you and I will keep in touch. K.F.

Please pray for my son. Pray that he continues to do well. We are so blessed with his progress. D.J.

Thank you so much for providing the St. Philomena novena and for all the prayers. My four year old son Alexander was diagnosed with PDD-NOS a year ago. I began praying the novena about six months ago. I have noticed an improvement in his behavior and in his communication. Also, I noticed that I was able to get him into programs, which I was originally told was nearly impossible to get him into. I was able to get him ABA therapy within only a couple of months, when I was originally told that there was a one year waiting list. Also, I was able to get him to be seen at the university by one of the developmental pediatricians, when I was once told that it was nearly impossible because of the waiting list. I truly believe that these doors opened up for me because of the prayers. Thank you once again. (USA)

Three years ago I had my grandson enrolled in the novena and also his cousin. My grandson is doing fantastic. He has had early intervention since he was about twenty months old. He is four years of age now. He reads and speaks well. (There is still a little work needed.) He never ate solid food and is now doing so. He is so happy and lovable. He's just doing great. We hope that he will be able to go to regular school, either next year or the following year. I am so grateful to God, to St. Philomena and to all my prayer partners across the world. Thank you so much for starting this wonderful Novena. P.M. NY USA

Dear Mary Ann, It has been at least 8 months since I added my daughter Paloma to the list for the Novena for the healing of autism. I want to thank you and Saint Philomena. My daughter has started to sleep again, and her terrible violent meltdowns have disappeared. Since she was diagnosed 4 years ago she stopped sleeping and life had become very difficult for her, her brother, father and myself. Light is shining once again in our lives and for that I thank you and Saint Philomena. God bless you, Magdalena Clark.

Mary Ann, I enrolled my son, Joseph in the autism novena last January. Joseph has experienced tremendous healing since then, praise Jesus! His communication has taken off in a big way, and is tolerating breaches of his restrictive diet much better. He is really relating to his little brothers, too, which is such a joy to see! Right now, he is going through a bit of a regression--I have hopes that it signals that deeper healing is taking place. On our long daily car ride to Joseph's ABA therapy, we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. After we finish the Chaplet, Joseph has recently begun ASKING to pray "Our St. Philomena Prayer." It's become part of our daily routine. It's great that he is able to actively participate in something that has brought such blessing to our family! God has been so good to us; our whole family has been strengthened in faith, hope and love. We continue to pray the novena for all affected children and their families and carers. For all you do, bless you! (Emily)

Hello Mary Ann, I would like to thank you for this apostolate that you have set up for the autistic children of the world. I first came across your apostolate 3 years ago when my 2 year old son was diagnosed with Autism (and this was also shortly after my conversion to Christianity after spending the previous 30 odd years as a devout atheist). I have no doubt that the prayers from your apostolate have lead me to finding a new way of helping my son overcome his regulation issues, sensory processing and other development delays commonly associated with ASD. I feel compelled to share this information with you as a thank you for your hard work (both at home with your children and for this apostolate).

Two months ago, we found out about an online program called Brain Highways from the US from another mother with a child with ASD. She highly praised the program after her previously non-verbal 5 year old daughter had tremendous gains in speech, motor planning etc. only after 8 months on the program. We signed up pretty much straight away after looking at the website – the $700 AUD course fee was quite reasonable compared to the thousands of dollars I’ve spent on private OT and speech therapy over the last 3 years.

I must stress that my son was on the moderate/severe side of the spectrum – at least half a dozen meltdowns per day, constant screaming at the top of his lungs as his only way to communicate, minimal speech, poor motor planning and other sensory issues.

Since starting the Brain Highways course 6 weeks ago, my son Joshua is now more regulated, his screaming has virtually disappeared, his posture, concentration is much improved (as noted by his preschool teachers) and more willing to try new foods – he has only completed about 20 hours of “floor time”. This is a massive improvement considering we had spent the last 3 years at early intervention programs, speech and OT therapies will only slight improvement.

We’re taught that on average, a child needs to complete about 200 hours of floor work to finish developing the lower centres of the brain – so we’re at least 12-18 months away from finishing this process. Basically, the program is based on research that all children need to undergo certain physical movements (i.e. creeping and crawling) to develop the lower centres of the brain from 6 to 12 months old. If this process is not completed, a lot of the symptomatic behaviours associated with autism, ADHD etc are manifest when the lower centres of the brain are under developed.

We are starting the second part of the course this week which runs for the next 8 weeks, and after that, parents are equipped with the knowledge to facilitate the course for the child (and other children!) for as long as required i.e. you only have to enroll one child into the course for the whole family to benefit – I am doing the exercises alongside my son at the same time so I can complete my brain development! We are excited about more changes that we can expect to see in our son over the coming months. I am in no way affiliated with Brain Highways and receive nothing for endorsing them – I’m just a regular Catholic dad doing what is best for my son and I truly believe that the Brain Highways program has significantly helped my son. I believe that it is through the prayers of others that have lead me to finding this gem of a course, and I need to share this with you. I recommend reading the following link written by mother who is doing the Brain Highways course locally in the US because she describes the course in more detail than I have: http://www.thecortexparent.com/believing-the-brain-can-change/

The video below also has some useful information on the Brain Highways course and how it has impacted the lives and changes of seven children with autism: http://www.brainhighways.com/c/samestorydiffend Also have a look at the Brain Highways videos at: www.brainhighways.com I’ve also attached a copy of the expected changes one can expect during the Brain Highways development process for your information. S.T. (Australia)

Thank You

Our thanks go out to all those who are praying this novena. Some people who are praying the novena do not have any personal connection with autism. What a wonderful example of charity. In another case a whole family is praying this novena for their family member, who has autism and also for others with the condtion.

From the mailbag

I am a psychologist. I have worked with autistic children since 2003. I still have a practice for these children. I pray for them and ask you to pray for me and for all the children that I have worked with, who have a diagnosis of autism.

Dear Mary Ann, Hello and thank you for the prayers. We have a little girl Eliana on the spectrum. She is doing very well, I try to keep up the prayers and many interventions have happened in the realm of growth. I would especially like some prayers for a special foundation that I am trying to get started here, which would incorporate art, music, dance, community, gardening, and equine therapy. It is in its beginning stages, so we need prayers to create a place to nurture these children's lives in a loving community. Thank you for your special prayers. Amy N. (USA)

I ask for a special prayer for myself, that you ask God to bless the work that I have done and the work that I will do in the future. I will try to say the prayers. I also believe in prayers to (and for) the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Thanks so much and may God bless you. (Michael).

God bless you. I pray the novena non-stop all month. A continuous novena. (P.M.) New York.

Comment from a grandmother who has an autistic grandson, who has two cousins (brothers - who also have autism.) Autism definitely runs in families. The grandmother quoted here sent us one of the testimonies which are published on this page.

We are from Dubai. I am going to Lourdes tomorrow, and will lift all the kids in prayer at the holy shrine. God bless you. (Sharon)

Throughout the world there is a rising autism epidemic. The reasons for this are not known. Genetics are strongly implicated, but it is thought that there may be other causes as well. This has brought a lot of concern and anxiety to parents everywhere. Research is being conducted into the causes. There is at this time no known cure for autism. The current approach to autism is mainly that of education and management. The mainstream media frequently carries items concerning autism, that highlight the rising epidemic and the impact that the condition has on families. This has brought about increased support for people who have autism. My husband and I live in Sydney, Australia. We have five children. Four of our five children were born on the autism spectrum. They have varying degrees of autism ranging from severe to mild. My late brother who was born in 1965 was also severely autistic. These circumstances coupled with a long standing personal devotion to St Philomena*, led me several years ago, to start a Novena to St. Philomena the Wonderworker on our family website for the healing of autism and autism related conditions such as Asperger’s Syndrome, Pope Gregory XVI named St Philomena the wonderworker of the nineteenth century on account of the many miracles that she had worked throughout the world. St Philomena is still proving herself to be worthy of the title of wonderworker today. She is the patron of mothers and children and this makes her an ideal patron for this novena.

Our family receives many emails detailing the difficulties experienced by the families of people who have autism. Some families are isolated socially by the complicated problems that the condition brings. Others are waiting for their child who is perhaps twelve or thirteen years of age to speak his or her first word. Some of the children and adults who have autism are for various reasons losing alarming amounts of weight. Parents particularly mothers, can be exhausted from having to maintain a constant vigilance over very hyperactive autistic children, in order to protect them from dangers, that their autism prevents them from perceiving. A surprising number of families have two or more members who are autistic. Everyone in the family is affected: parents, siblings and even close relatives. Many of the people enrolled in the novena have other serious health problems and disabilities in addition to autism. Autism and mental retardation frequently go hand in hand. Raising an autistic child often feels overwhelming and can be a very lonely experience. Other people do not have a good understanding of the condition and of the difficulties that it entails. Autism’s spill over effect can lead to anxiety problems and depression in other members of the family.The normal rules for raising children do not work very well with autistic children. Autism takes a great toll on the families who are trying to cope with it. Our family strongly supports any reasonable approach to dealing with autism, such as speech therapy and special education, but something else is needed: prayer** hence the novena. We hope that this novena will bring many families, from around the world together in prayer to pray for the healing of autism, and also to pray for support for the parents and siblings of people who have autism.The carers and the professionals who work with people who have autism are also being prayed for in this novena. The doctors, teachers, speech and occupational therapists need our prayers, to guide them in their work for people who have autism.

*I first started my devotion to St Philomena in September, 1976 when I found a leaflet about her in a shop in Parramatta, (a suburb of Sydney, Australia). I made a novena to her and she speedily convinced me that she deserved the title of Wonder Worker by granting my impossible request very soon after the novena.

**Our oldest child received a big healing from autism through prayer.

A suggestion from a visitor to this web page

To help you to remember to say the autism novena, set up a homepage tab for this web page, so that when you open up your browser, you will be able to go to the autism novena web page straight away.

Is there an official patron saint for autism?

There is really no official patron saint for autism, but there are several saints who it seems, are appropriate to pray to, for people with autism. (In addition, it is wise to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and to ask for their powerful intercession for the person who is suffering from autism.) My youngest sibling (a brother) named Steven was born in May, 1965. When Steven was born, there was hardly a name for the condition (autism) yet alone a patron saint. My brother was severely autistic and mostly non-verbal all his life. (He died at the age of 24.) There is a special reason why I chose St. Philomena for this novena, (which I never thought would become as large as it is.) The story is at this link on my website. It is entitled; How I came to know St. Philomena the Wonder Worker, and what she has to do with the naming of this website.

One of the emails that I received, has confirmed for me, the choice of St. Philomena (as the patron saint of this novena.) The email was from a grandfather, who chose St. Philomena, as the first of six saints that he was going to pray to, for his grandson, (who has been diagnosed with autism.) He started the novena, and then when he came back home from the church, he did a Google search and found this webpage. If I remember correctly, there is also at least one other email along similar lines. (Mary Ann)

A method for teaching a child who has autism how to speak

If your child (who has autism) is speech delayed, you might like to try the method which I successfully used to teach speech to my oldest child, when she was approximately three and a half years of age. The method is contained in the article at the following link: